Cinder block projects offer many neat possibilities around not only your lawn but the inside of your home as well. This is particularly true if you have children. From the smallest to the oldest there are many projects you can do with cinderblocks and pieces of wood that will follow them through the many years while allowing flexibility for paint and adaptation with age and interests. I’ve seen many people take the cinder block fashion statement to the dorm room with them as well.
Cinder Block Book Shelves
The key when it comes to many cinder block projects is creativity and imagination. You can standard ideas and expound on them in many ways. Start with a simple set of floor to ceiling shelves. These can be done in almost any room in your home and are relatively inexpensive to make. Add to that the estimated ‘shelf life’ if you’ll pardon the pun and you will find that you can get an excellent return on investment for this incredible kid furniture. I recommend painting the cinder blocks and the wood pieces for these shelves in colors that are most definitely kid friendly.
Make sure that you are placing the proper support for the wood at proper intervals. You do not want too much unsupported weight, as it will cause the wood to bow. I personally prefer no more than 3 feet without support. This means if your shelves are six feet long you will need 3 blocks minimum per shelf placed at appropriate intervals.
Do this for each shelf, you may want to alternate the location of the blocks but make certain that there are no more than 3 feet between blocks on any one shelf. Just remember that you aren’t limited to bookshelves. Other great cinder block projects for kids room includes desks, tables, and bench seating. Your kids will love it and it is nearly indestructible.
Cinder Block Projects for the Great Outdoors
Cinder blocks are excellent choices for seating barbecue pits, for pavers in walkways, and have even been used as planters by those with a creative spark and a taste for the funky and trendy deco art that we see in many emerging areas. The truth of the matter is that you are the only limitation when it comes to possibilities for cinder block projects. Some of my favorite cinder block projects are those that take place out doors. You can do all kinds of wonderful things with cinder blocks from creating walkways to establishing borders between your garden and your lawn.
If you need more cinder block projects for the great outdoors try a raised cinder block garden. You begin by laying landscaping cloth down then line up your cinder blocks into either a rectangle or square on top of the cloth. You will then fill the block with top soil and whatever plants you intend to place in them. It is recommended that you do not use plants that cannot stand the heat as cinderblocks warm up rather well. You should also take care that you are providing enough water to your garden in order for it to properly grow.
These are but a few of the many great cinder block projects that can not only be a great deal of fun but also offer a great sense of accomplishment. Many of these projects, especially the painting of the cinder blocks and the planting of the garden are great projects for your children to help out with, which is always great fun for all involved.
